Recuva is a Windows recovery tool built to undelete files that have been removed from the Recycle Bin, lost after a drive format, or corrupted by a crash. It scans local drives, external disks, USB flash drives and memory cards for recoverable data, then lets you preview and restore individual files before they are permanently overwritten. The free edition is enough for most one-off recovery jobs; a paid Professional edition adds virtual hard drive support and automatic updates.
Why People Reach for Recuva First
Recuva is usually the first tool people try after accidentally emptying the Recycle Bin or formatting a memory card, because it needs no technical knowledge to run a scan. The wizard walks you through selecting a file type and location, and a deep scan mode digs further into the drive when a quick scan cannot find what you are looking for.
Recuva Features
- Quick and Deep Scan modes — a fast scan for recently deleted files, and a slower sector-by-sector scan for tougher recovery jobs
- File preview — view recoverable images and documents before restoring them, so you only save what you actually need
- Secure overwrite — permanently wipe files you do want gone using the same recovery engine in reverse
- Recovery from multiple media — works on hard drives, USB flash drives, memory cards and MP3 players
- Portable version — run Recuva from a USB stick without installing it on the machine you are recovering files from
- File Recovery Wizard — a step-by-step guided mode for users who just want their files back with minimal options
- Recovery filters — narrow scan results by file type, size or date to find the right file faster
How to Install Recuva on Windows
- Download the installer from the official download page or the button on this page.
- Run the setup file and follow the on-screen prompts to install Recuva.
- Decline any bundled offers shown during setup if you only want Recuva itself.
- Launch Recuva and choose the file type and drive you want to scan.
- Run a scan, then preview and restore the files you need to a different drive.
Is Recuva really free?
Freemium. The core Recuva application is free for personal and commercial use. A paid Professional edition adds automatic updates, virtual hard drive support and premium support.
How to download Recuva safely
Use the request button on this page and we will email you the current link for www.ccleaner.com/recuva — the publisher's own website — so you receive the authentic build. We do not host, mirror, patch or repackage this software in any way.
Avoid third-party "download manager" sites offering Recuva. They commonly wrap the genuine installer in their own bundler, which is how adware and browser hijackers get onto a machine that the user believed was clean.
Alternatives to Recuva
Other free backup & recovery software worth comparing before you decide:
TestDisk & PhotoRec
Open-source command-line partition repair and file carving tools.
Frequently asked questions
Is Recuva free to use?
Yes. The standard version of Recuva is free for both personal and commercial use; a paid Professional edition adds extras like automatic updates.
Can Recuva recover files after formatting a drive?
It can often recover files after a quick format using its Deep Scan mode, though success depends on whether the data has been overwritten.
Does Recuva work on external drives and USB sticks?
Yes, Recuva can scan internal hard drives, external drives, USB flash drives and memory cards.
Will Recuva definitely recover my deleted files?
Not always — recovery depends on whether the deleted data has been overwritten by new files, so it is best to scan as soon as possible after deletion.
Is there a Mac or Linux version of Recuva?
No, Recuva is only available for Windows.
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Recuva is identical worldwide — these are search phrasings, not different downloads. Every one of them gets the same official build from www.ccleaner.com/recuva.
